Rake loader



Aug. 4, 1942.

J. MCGUIRE ET AL RAKE LOADER Filed Sept. 29, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheefl John .7140 Q uj/r/ John E. maQ uj/re INVENTOR.

Aug 4; 1942.

J. M GUIRE ET AL RAKE LOADER I Filed Sept. 29, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 J0 7272 Mo dag/Key John 5.240 qua/rev NVENTOR.

Aug. 4, 1942. J. McGUlRE EIAL 2,292,280

RAKE LOADER Filed Sept. 29, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 John Mg G u i/re/ ATIDRNEYS Aug. 4, 1942. I J. MCGUIRE ET AL 2,292,280

RAKE LOADER Filed Sept. 29, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 4, 1942. ,1, MCGUIRE E'l AL 2,292,280

I John Mo Q uj/re/ John E Mc/4uj/7w/ -INVENTOR.

ATI'DRNEYE 4, 1942- J. MCGUIRE ET AL 2,292,280

RAKE LOADER R John E. Mada ire n INVENTOR. R

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ATI'D R N EYE Patented Aug. 4, 1942 T RAKE LOADER John McGuire and John R. McGuire, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 29, 1941, Serial No. 412,866

2 Claims.

Our invention relates to rake loaders, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved loader embodying means for collecting a relatively wide swath of hay and the like designed to converge the collected material into pickup proximity with the lower end of an elevating conveyor, together with novel means for conveying material from the upper end of the elevator mechanism to a point where it may be dropped into a suitable receptacle.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a rake loader in accordance with our invention, with certain portions broken away for the purpose of illustration Figure 2 is a similar View but illustrating the horizontal take-off conveyor in position at the upper end of the elevator mechanism, in distinction to the illustration of Figure 1 wherein the horizontal conveyor is positioned adjacent to the elevator for storage and transportation purposes;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view;

Figure 5 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 5-5 of Figure l; I

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of the elevator;

Figure "I is a vertical sectional view of the upper end of the elevator and a portion of the horizontal conveyor;

Figure 8 is a view taken from the position indicated by line 8-8 of Figure 2 Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 8; and

Figure 10 is a sectional detail view of one of the rake tine unit adjusting guides.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, we make use of a lower frame I0 mounted on axles I2 on each of which is mounted a supporting wheel I4. Upon the frame I9 is mounted an upright frame I6 which supports an elevator I8 inclined slightly to the vertical. Elevator I8 comprises spaced side walls 29 between which are mounted two endless belts or canvases 22 and 24. The canvas 22 operates on rollers 26 and 21, while the canvas 24 operates on rollers 28 and 29 in association with a frame 39. Canvas 24 together with its frame 30 pivots about the axis of the roller 28 and normally converges slightly in the direction of the lower end of the canvas 22.

The lower ends of both canvases 22 and 24 lie in a common plane slightly in advance of the wheels I4 and a short distance above the ground surface 32. Each side wall 29 is provided with a slot 34 through which a stop pin 36 attached to the side of the frame 3|] extends. Thus the stop pins 36 normally hold the canvas 24 in the position of Figure 6, but the canvas 24 may pivot from the canvas 22 to accommodate large bunches of material being elevated.-

A rake tine unit 38 is carried by the frame I9. In Figure 5, the unit 38 comprises a semicircular frame 40 encircling the lower end of the elevator I8. To the frame 40 is secured rake tines 42 also arranged to define a portion of a circle so as to collect hay or other material in a relatively wide swath and converge the collected material in and about the lower end of the elevator I8 to be elevated therein through the medium of the two belts 2'2 and 24.

The shaft 44, to which the roller 21 is keyed, is rotatably journaled in the side walls 20. The shaft 46, to which the roller 26 is keyed, is also rotatably journaled in the side walls and is provided with a grooved wheel 48 for connection with a crossed V belt 50 passing over a grooved wheel 52 attached to the shaft 54 to which the roller 28 is keyed. Shaft 54 is also rotatably journaled in the side walls 20. A second grooved wheel 56is attached to the shaft 46 for connection with a V belt. 58 passing around a grooved wheel 69 secured to a shaft 62 rotatably mounted on the frame I6. A second grooved wheel 64 is attached to the shaft 62 for connection with a crossed V belt 66 passing around a grooved wheel 68 on a shaft I0 rotatably mounted on the frame I0. Means for driving the shaft I0 comprises a sprocket I2 connected with a chain 14 passing around a sprocket I6 attached to one of the axles I2. Proper tension is maintained in the belt 58 by a belt tightener I8 pivotally mounted on the frame I6 and biased against the belt by a tension spring 88.

In Figure 5, a rear wall 82 is secured to the side walls 20 and is extended beyond the side walls to provide flanges 84 slidably guided in channels 86 comprising members of the frame I6. Rollers 88 are mounted on the members 90 of the frame I6 for engagement with the forward edges of the side walls 20. Thus the elevator [8 may be adjusted vertically relatively to the frame I6.

Bell cranks 92 are pivotally connected at 94 to frame members 96 located on opposite sides of the frame I6. Since both bell cranks and their associated structure are identical, the description of one will apply to both. One arm of the bell crank is provided with an elongated loop 98 loosely receiving a pin I on one of the side walls 20. The other arm of the bell crank is pivotally connected with one end of a link I52 having its other end pivotally connected with a lever I84 secured to a rotary shaft IEIE mounted on the frame member 86. To the free end of one of the levers I04 is pivotally connected one end of a link I08 having its other end pivotally connected with a lever III). Thus the bell crank 92 may be pivoted through manipulation of the lever Hill for imparting vertical. adjustment to the elevator I8 to the end that the lower end of the elevator may be properly adjusted to the ground surface with respect to the character of the material being handled.

Two opposite sides of the frame I 8 are provided with guides I I2 which slidably support blocks I I4 to which the frame 48 of the rake tine unit is fixedly secured. One block H4 on each side of the frame is provided with an elongated eye H6 for the loose reception of a pin I58 at one end of a bell crank Iii) fixed to a shaft I22 rotatably mounted on the frame I0. To the other end of one of the bell cranks I is pivotally connected a link I24 having its other end pivotally connected with a lever I26 so that the rake tine unit may be adjusted vertically through manipulation of the lever I23.

Figure 10 illustrates a specific construction of one of the guides H2. The block I It includes an arm I slidable through an opening I21 in the guide I12, this arm being provided with the pin II8 which connects with the eye lit. The remaining two guides II2 and their respective blocks li t are of the same construction with the exception that they are devoid of a bell crank connection. The blocks II4 are slidably guided in slots I28. Thus the rake tine unit may be adjusted independently of the elevator and relatively to the ground surface.

Referring to Figure 5, two channels I33 are secured to the back wall 32, these channels opening in the direction of each other and extending in parallelism upwardly of the wall. In the channels I is slidably mounted the lower end of a horizontal conveyor I32. This conveyor comprises side walls I34 in which are rotatably journaled shafts I36 to which are keyed rollers I38 supporting an endless belt I 30. The forward ends of the walls E34 are interconnected by a wall I 30 and the rear ends of the walls are interconnected by a bar I42 having blocks 544 at its ends slidable in the channels I30. The bar It? is pivotally connected with the side walls E34, and each chan nel I39 is provided with a stop hit at its upper end engageable by one of the blocks I4 3 to prevent that block from sliding beyond the position shown in Figure 6.

Normally the horizontal conveyor I32 lies in the position of Figure 1 adjacent the rear wall 82. Means for moving the conveyor I32 from its position of Figure l to that illustrated in Figures 2 and '1 comprises a frame M8 pivotally connected at its lower end with a shaft I55 rotatably journaled in frame members I52 secured to the channels I30. One end of the shaft I553 is provided with a crank Hit and is provided with a sprocket I for driving a chain I58 passing around a sprocket I88 keyed to a shaft I62 rotatably journaled in the upper end of the frame I48. Two gears IE4 are keyed to the shaft I62 and mesh with rakes I 86 secured to the side walls I34. Thus rotation of the crank I54 imparts movement to the chain I58 for rotating the gears I64.

With the conveyor I32 positioned according to Figure 1, counter-clockwise rotation of the gears [64, best illustrated in Figure 3, elevates the conveyor I32 in the channels I30 to the position where the blocks I44 engage the stops I46. At the same time, the frame I48 pivots from the position illustrated in Figure 1 to that illustrated in Figure 2, so that the conveyor I32 is supported in the position shown in Figures 2 and 6.

To each side of the frame I48 is connected a tension spring I68, these springs being connected with the frame I0. Chain tighteners I10 are mounted on the frame I48 for the chain I58. To each side wall I34 is connected a link I12 pivotally connected at I14 with a link I16 pivotally connected at I18 with one of the side Walls 20. The links I12 are in the nature of elbows, and each link has one end of a tension spring I connected therewith, the opposite end of the tension spring being connected with the respective link I16. Means for driving the belt or canvas I48 of the conveyor I32 comprises a grooved wheel I82 keyed to one of the shafts I36. Wheel I82 engages one run of the belt I58. While the grooved wheel I82 lies in the plane of the grooved wheels 56 and (if? in the nested position of the conveyor I32, as illustrated in Figure 1, the belt tightener 18 is yieldable so that the belt I58 may be distorted from the position of Figure 1 to that illustrated in Figure 2 to accommodate the shifted position of the grooved wheel I82. Rollers I84 are mounted on the rear wall 82 for engagement with the side walls I34 of the conveyor I32 when descending or arising relatively to the rear wall.

We provide a rake loader wherein the conveyor I32 may be closely nested with respect to the elevator I8 to facilitate transportation from place to place as well as conservation of space when in storage. In addition, the rake tine unit is so formed as to collect the material in an exceptionally wide swath and converge the material into pickup relationship with the lower end of the elevator. Both the elevator and the rake tine unit are adjustably mounted so a to permit precise adjustment under variable operating conditions.

The conveyor is particularly adapted to pusher Service, as when secure-d to the forward end of a tractor or suitable truck. .A beam structure I86 may be bolted to a mount I88 secured to the frame I0, which beam structure may be attached to the propelling vehicle. Under such conditions, the conveyor I32 will convey the material over the propelling vehicle and drop the material into the truckor tractor-drawn receptacle. A third wheel I90 is illustrated in association with the forward end of the frame I0. This wheel may be adjusted for elevation but in connection with the tractoror truck-driven hookups. We prefer to eliminate the third wheel I90, since the frame I0 will be secured to the propelling vehicle so as to balance the frame I0 upon the supporting wheels I4.

Rollers I92 are mounted at the ends of the shaft I84 which pivotally connects the side walls I34 with the bar I52. The rollers ISZ-engage the channels I30, particularly when the conveyor I32 is pivoting to its horizontal position so as to facilitate pivotal movement thereof.

A hood I94 is attached to the side walls 20 at the delivery end of the belts 22 and 24. Springs I95 connect with the bell cranks 92 and the frame IE to aid in lifting the elevator I8.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate our inventionythat others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

We claim:

1. A rake loader comprising a supporting frame, an upright elevator structure mounted on said frame and comprising in part two endless belts, a rake tine unit, mounted on said frame forv raking material in and about the lower end of said elevator structure to be picked up by said belts, a drive means for said belts comprising in part an endless flexible member, a horizontal conveyor normally lying in an upright position adjacent said elevator structure and comprising in part a third belt, sliding pivot means for one end of said horizontal conveyor, a drive means for said third belt located at said one end of the horizontal conveyor and operatively engaging JOHN MCGUIRE. JOHN R. MCGUIRE. 

